Black Squirrels and Munjac Deer

Black Squirrels

Squirrels can be seen on Norton Common all the year round They are not a difference species – they are just grey squirrels with a lot more black or dark brown hair in their pelage (fur).

The grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is not native to Britain. They were first introduced from the United States in the mid 19th century. The black ones are just grey squirrels with high levels of the black pigment ‘melanin’ in their hair. They are called ‘melanic grey squirrels’. Although generally rare across Britain, black squirrels are found in: Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire.

Munjac Deer

In the autumn and winter, as the undergrowth dies down, these small deer are more noticeable. They are usually more active at dawn or dusk but, in recent years on The Common, they appear to be bolder and are often seen during the day. Muntjac were first introduced from China to Woburn Park in Bedfordshire in the early 20th century. Deliberate releases and escapes from Woburn, led to feral populations establishing all over the place, including Letchworth. They are russet brown in summer, grey brown in winter and are small, up to 52cm. Males have short antlers which can regrow. They feed on herbs, brambles, ivy, heather, coppice shoots, etc. and can live for 15 years or more. A common name for muntjac is "barking deer" after their repeated, loud bark when rutting and at other times. They can be heard several roads away – you may have heard them at any time of the day or year. They breed all year round. We don’t know how many live on Norton Common. They are usually seen in ones or twos, never in herds.Muntjac are the oldest known deer, appearing 15-35 million years ago, - remains have been found in Miocene deposits in France and Germany.

Friends of Norton Common Calendar 2008

Please feel free to download and print our 2008 calendar (and rearrange the months in the correct order), so you have an beautiful image of the common, wherever you are, all year round!

Friends of Norton Common

Friends of Norton Common
Practical Tasks

October 2007 - March 2008


· Wednesday 3 October, 10.15am til 4pm
Rake large marsh (wet grassland between west ride and Icknield Way) – meet on the common 75 yards down the avenue/cycle path off Icknield Way

· Sunday 21 October, 10.00am til approx 4pm
Rake small marsh (wet grassland between Pix Brook/large drainage ditch and Hawthorn Hill) and cut back scrub – meet on the common approx half way along the avenue/cycle path (near the bottom of the hill).

· Sunday 2 December, 10.00am til approx 4pm
Scrub control / open path along Pix Brook – meet on the common near the bridge over the brook approx 50 yards in from Cowslip Hill

· Wednesday 5 December, 10.15am til 4pm
Coppice scrub (bushes) on northern half of western boundary – meet on the common at the end of the concrete path off Cowslip Hill

· Sunday 20 January, 10.00am til approx 4pm Coppice scrub on paths through the woodland between the swimming pool and Wilbury Road – meet near the entrance to the avenue on Wilbury Road

· Wednesday 23 January, 10.15am til 4pm Coppice scrub on paths through the woodland between the swimming pool and Wilbury Road – meet near the entrance to the avenue on Wilbury Road

Call 01462 459395 for more information or
phone 07771 626 157 to find us on the day